Frame structure

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a rack or frame structure for electronic cabinets, specifically for network cabinets and cabinet rows with high cabling densities. To ensure in the case of high stability unhindered access to a reception area and cable routing in each direction, two vertical members and four depth members are so connected that a right and left-hand double-T frame is formed. The vertical members are in particular positioned as central members. The preferably releasable connection of the right and left-hand double-T frame takes place with the aid of a lower and upper transverse member in the vicinity of the vertical members, accompanied by the formation of a front and a rear frame recess.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a rack or frame structure for electroniccabinets with a right and a left-hand vertical member, two upper andlower depth members and with transverse members.

The invention is particularly suitable for instrument and equipmentcabinets used for setting up local networks and for receivingelectrical, electronic and optoelectronic equipment, parts andcomponents and which are intended to receive relatively large cablequantities, as well as cables with different diameters.

2. Discussion of the Background

Known frame structures for equipment cabinets have an upper and a lower,horizontal frame of in each case two depth and transverse members. Theframes are interconnected by four vertical members in the corner regionsand as a result a reception area for equipment, components and cables isformed. To the frame structure can be fitted covering parts, e.g. afront door, side walls, a rear wall, a cover and a bottom plate in orderto form an equipment cabinet closed on all sides.

For applications with large cable quantities and for cables withrelatively large diameters and limited bendability, it is necessary tohave frame structures, which permit free access to the cables in thereception area and unhindered cabling and cable routing with apreferably all-round access to the cabling areas.

DE 94 05 618.8 discloses a frame structure with four vertical sectionsor two lateral supporting walls, which link an upper cover plate and alower base plate. The cover and base plates have fastening or mountingholes and are provided with two front and rear, mutually aligned armsthrough which is formed a front and rear recess for cable harnesses.Cable installation can take place on the relatively open,component-equipped frame structure.

WO 99/48305 A1 describes a frame structure for a telecommunications andnetwork cabinet, in which upper and lower horizontal, rectangular framesare connected by two vertical sections. The installation of thesubassemblies, equipment, cable units, etc. takes place on vertical,front and rear assembly members, which have fixing holes of thecorresponding standard and which are fixed to additional lower andupper, horizontal transverse sections.

GB 2 345 240 B discloses a frame structure for an equipment cabinet withtwo or four vertical members, which are interconnected at the top andbottom by in each case two transverse members. The two transversemembers have a U-shaped construction and are interconnected in thevicinity of their transverse webs or form an elongated, centrallyconnected cross.

The known frame structures, which are relatively complicated tomanufacture, do not in all cases satisfy the demands for an unhinderedcabling and vertical and horizontal cable routing with free access tothe cabling areas, particularly in the case of cabinet rows withlaterally adjacent cabinets.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide a frame structure forelectronic cabinets, particularly those in network andtelecommunications technology, as well as for cabinet rows, which in thecase of an inexpensive manufacture and installation ensure unhinderedlaying of relatively large cable quantities and differing bendability,together with a vertical and horizontal cable routing without threading.

According to the invention this object is achieved by a frame structurefor electronic cabinets with a right and a left-hand vertical member,two upper and lower depth members and with transverse members, a rightand a left-hand vertical member being in each case terminally connectedto an upper and a lower depth member to form a right and a left-handdouble-T frame and in which the right and left-hand double-T frames arelinked by an upper and a lower transverse member, accompanied by theformation of a front and a rear frame recess.

Appropriate and advantageous developments are described in the subclaimsand drawings.

A fundamental idea of the invention is to create a self-supporting baseframe construction, in which four depth members, two vertical membersand two transverse members are so arranged and connected that anextremely stable and at the same time disassemblable base frame isobtained ensuring unhindered cabling of a large number of cables,together with a cable routing in the vertical and horizontal directionsand in particular from one cabinet to an adjacent cabinet with freeaccess to cabling areas from all sides.

According to the invention a right and a left-hand vertical member is ineach case connected at the upper and lower end with an upper and a lowerdepth member so as to form a right and a left-hand double-T frame.

Preferably the connection of the vertical members to the upper and lowerdepth members takes place by welding and the thus formed unit isadvantageous for the storage, transportation and installation of theframe structure.

The two in particular right and left-side double-T frames areinventively connected by an upper and a lower transverse member, adetachable connection, e.g. a screwed connection, being advantageous fora disassemblable construction which can e.g. be delivered as a flatpack.

In plan view the inventive frame structure can also be considered as aH-frame, in which the depth members form the vertical webs and thetransverse members the horizontal web.

The right and left-hand double-T frames can also be looked upon,following a 90° rotation, as H-frames, particularly if the verticalmember is in each case centrally connected to the upper and lower depthmember and is therefore positioned as a central member.

Due to the fact that the vertical members located in the corner regionsin the known cabinet constructions are omitted and front and rear framerecesses are formed without interfering front and rear transversemembers, an unhindered cabling and vertical cable routing is ensuredfrom above or from below, together with horizontal cable routing fromthe left and/or right and from one cabinet to an adjacent cabinet, e.g.in the case of cabinet rows. There is no need for the threading ofcables, which is complicated and difficult to manipulate in the case ofcables with corresponding diameters.

There is also an unhindered access to the cabling areas from essentiallyall sides, in particular from the front and side.

The necessary stability of the inventive frame structure is achievedthrough multiply folded or bent vertical members and depth andtransverse members constructed as C and/or U-beams.

In particularly advantageous manner open multichamber sections can beused as vertical members and have a rectangular contour with relativelynarrow short sides and approximately two to four times longerlongitudinal sides. Open multichamber sections, e.g. three-chambersections, formed by multiple folds or bends can appropriately bemanufactured from a sheet steel blank in a rolling shaping method oralso in a bending method and, apart from their supporting function, canalso be used for cable routing and/or fixing cable managementcomponents, e.g. cable wells and the like. The vertical members providedin the direction of a reception area with at least one central openingand a front and rear inner legs provide connection points for section orprofile rails and accessories, e.g. 19″ accessories, such as socketledges and the like.

In the front and rear inner legs which, with a central opening, form aninside of the vertical members, appropriately fixing openings are formedin grid-like manner in accordance with a respective given standard. Inthe upper and lower area appropriately holes are provided for screwedconnections for the detachable connection to the transverse members.

Further fixing openings can advantageously be formed in the narrow shortsides of the vertical sections in order to be able to fix accessories,assembly members, equipment, subassemblies and cable managementcomponents.

A cable routing or reception of cables is possible in the vicinity ofthe outer longitudinal side of the vertical members, the cables beingintroduceable by means of a front and rear longitudinal opening.

For the preferably fixed connection of a vertical member to an upper andlower depth member, end regions of the vertical members are positivelyreceived in a corresponding recess of the particular depth member and inparticular welded. Advantageously connection takes place with depthmembers with a C-shaped section and a recess, which is formed in aninside horizontal leg and an upper and lower inner leg, so that theoutside end region of a depth member engages with a vertical C-leg andfrontally on an outside horizontal leg. Advantageously there is afurther connection in the vicinity of the upper and lower inner leg ofthe depth members.

Appropriately the depth members are provided with connection points forhinging, particularly pin hinging, as well as for a locking device, e.g.a locking hook of a covering part in the form of a door. Theseconnection points are preferably provided at the front and end and cane.g. be constructed on the outside horizontal legs as angle members withcorresponding openings.

It is advantageous that the depth members can also be manufactured froma sheet steel blank by multiple bends and punching out. The connectionpoints integrated into the depth members can also be used for adetachable fixing of a rear wall and side walls, as well as a cover anda bottom plate.

Appropriately U or C-shaped supports are used as transverse members andin the same way as the depth members can be arranged with their openingsfacing. For example, the width of the transverse members can correspondto the depth of the vertical members. An advantageous, releasable fixingof the transverse members takes place on the depth members, so that theframe structure can be disassembled to provide two double-T frames andtwo transverse members, which ensures delivery can take place in flatpack form.

For advantageous screw fixing the transverse members are frontallyprovided in each case with a fixing plate, which is much higher than thevertical legs of the U or C-shaped transverse members and has holes forthe screwed connection to the vertical members of the right andleft-hand double-T frame.

The fixing plates of the transverse members are provided with fixingside plates to increase stability and the supporting function and theyare bent at right angles and embrace or engage on end regions of thevertical legs and a horizontal marginal web of the transverse members ineach case.

The frame construction according to the invention is advantageouslyusable for frame structures or cabling cabinets of different widths andin an extremely simple manner it is only necessary to adapt the lengthof the transverse members. The lateral double-T frames can be used inunchanged form.

It falls within the scope of the present invention through a simplemodification of the recess in the depth members, to arrange and connectthe vertical members eccentrically for forming different front and rearframe recesses.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is described in greater detail hereinafter relative to thehighly diagrammatic drawings, wherein show:

FIG. 1 A perspective representation of a frame structure according tothe invention.

FIG. 2 A larger scale representation of the base area of the inventiveframe structure of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 A perspective representation of the depth member of the inventiveframe structure.

FIG. 4 A perspective representation of an upper area of a verticalmember of the inventive frame structure.

FIG. 5 A cross-section through the vertical member of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 A perspective representation of a transverse member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows a frame structure 2 ensuring high stability and unhinderedcabling and cable routing in all directions and therefore anadvantageous use for network cabinets and cabinet rows with high cablingdensities.

The frame structure 2 comprises two vertical members 3, four depthmembers 4 and two transverse members 5, which are so positioned andinterconnected that a frontal frame recess 8 and a rear frame recess 9are formed. FIG. 1 and the larger scale partial representation of FIG. 2make it clear that cable routing without disadvantageous threading ispossible, because both the generally conventional front and rearvertical members and also the front and rear upper and lower transversemembers are omitted.

High stability and simultaneously advantageous accessibility and cablingare achieved through the connection of in each case one vertical member3 to a depth member 4 fixed to the upper and lower end so as to form adouble-T frame. The connection of the depth members 4 to end regions ofthe vertical members 3 preferably takes place by welded connections 10of the vertical members 3 inserted in recesses 30 of depth members 4(cf. also FIG. 3).

The right 6 and left-hand double-T frames 7 are interconnected by anupper and lower transverse member 5 and there is an advantageous,releasable screwed connection 11 between the transverse members 5 anddepth members 4 of the right-hand double-T frame 6 and left-handdouble-T frame 7.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show the mirror-inverted arrangement of the right andleft-hand vertical member 3, the upper and lower depth members 4 andupper and lower transverse member 5, which define a reception area 28for electrical, electronic and optoelectronic equipment and cable runs(not shown).

In each case the depth members 4 are provided with terminal connectionpoints 34 for fixing covering parts, e.g. a rear wall, two side walls, acover and a base plate (not shown) as well as for hinging and lockingmeans for a door (not shown).

The depth members 4 are also constructed for fixing assembly members 38,said fixing can be performed directly or indirectly by means of adaptors39 and advantageously in depth-adjustable manner.

FIG. 2 shows a base-side area of the frame structure 2 according toFIG. 1. Identical features are given the same reference numerals. Thelarger scale partial representation of FIG. 2 shows further details andin particular the profile cross-sections of vertical members 3, depthmembers 4 and transverse members 5 and the connection areas 10, 11.

FIG. 3 shows the left-hand, lower depth member 4 according to FIGS. 1and 2. The depth member 4 has a C-shaped cross-section, which is formedby an externally positioned, vertical C-leg 35, horizontal legs 36, 37bent at right angles thereto and inner legs 32, 33 bent at right angles.

A recess 30 for receiving an end region of a vertical member 3 (cf.FIGS. 1 and 2) is formed centrally in this embodiment, in that the innerhorizontal leg 37 and the bent inner leg 33, as well as the bottom innerleg 32 bent on the outer horizontal leg 36 are not constructed incontinuous manner. The recess 30 is dimensioned in complimentary mannerto the end regions of the depth members 4 and ensures a positivereception and a welding of the vertical member 3 engaging flat on thevertical C-leg 35 and outer horizontal leg 36 and adjacent to thehorizontal leg 37 and the two inner legs 32, 33.

FIG. 3 shows that the connection points 34 can be constructed asinwardly directed angle members with different openings 31.

FIG. 4 shows an upper area of the left-hand vertical member 3 accordingto FIG. 1 and FIG. 5 shows a cross-section of said vertical member 3.Both FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 illustrate the construction of the verticalmembers 3 as open three-chamber sections, which can be manufactured bymultiple bends or folds of a blank.

In cross-section the vertical members 3 have a rectangular contour witha front and rear short side 12, 13 and an inner and outer longitudinalside 14, 15. The inner longitudinal side 14 embraces a front inner leg16 and a rear inner leg 17 between which is formed a central opening-18as a result of bent transverse legs 22, 23 and an outer connecting leg21. Advantageously cables can be inserted and laid through the centralopening 18. Cable routing is also possible in the vicinity of the outerlongitudinal side 15 which, as a result of approximately right-angledbends, has a front opening 19 and a rear opening 20. Into said front andrear openings 19, 20 project short legs 26, which are constructed asright-angled bends of the front short side 12 and rear short side 13.

Fixing openings 24 are formed both in the short sides 12, 13 and in thefront and rear inner legs 16, 17. There are also fixing holes 25 for thescrewed connections 11 (FIGS. 1 and 2), which are used for connectingthe right-hand double-T frame 6 and the left-hand double-T frame 7 tothe upper and lower transverse member 5.

FIG. 6 shows that the fixing holes 25 are constructed in complimentarymanner to the holes 41 in the front fixing plates 40 of transversemembers 5. In this embodiment there are four holes 41 in the transversemember 5 and fixing plates 40 and correspondingly four fixing holes 25in the vertical leg 3 and the two inner legs 16, 17.

The transverse member according to FIG. 6 is upwardly and downwardlyopen and in cross-section is U or C-shaped and is provided on eitherside of a horizontally positioned leg 45 with vertical legs 44 and benthorizontal marginal webs 42, which are directed inwards and areterminally embraced by fixing side plates 43. The fixing side plates 43are constructed as bevelled 90° bends of the fixing plates 40 andcontribute to increasing the supporting and carrying function.

The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate theinvention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of thedisclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of theinvention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention shouldbe constructed to include everything within the scope of the appendedclaims and equivalents thereof.

1. Frame structure for electronic cabinets with a right and a left-handvertical member, two upper and lower depth members and transversemembers, wherein a right-hand and a left-hand vertical member is in eachcase terminally connected to an upper and lower depth member to form aright and left-hand double-T frame and wherein the right and left-handdouble-T frames are connected by an upper and a lower transverse member,accompanied by the formation of a front and rear frame recess.
 2. Framestructure according to claim 1, wherein the vertical members areconnected by welded joints to the upper and lower depth members to formright and left-hand double-T frames.
 3. Frame structure according toclaim 1, wherein the right and left-hand double-T frames are in eachcase releasably connected to the upper and lower transverse members. 4.Frame structure according to claim 1, wherein the right and left-handdouble-T frames are connected in the vicinity of the vertical members byscrewed connections to the upper and lower transverse members.
 5. Framestructure according to claim 1, wherein the vertical members arepositioned as central members.
 6. Frame structure according to claim 1,wherein the vertical members are open multichamber sections and areformed by multiple bends and have a rectangular contour with narrowshort sides.
 7. Frame structure according to claim 1, wherein thevertical members have an inner longitudinal side with a front and a rearinner leg, as well as a central opening and a parallel, outerlongitudinal side with a front and rear opening, as well as a connectingleg connected by transverse legs to the front and rear inner legs of theouter longitudinal side.
 8. Frame structure according to claim 7,wherein fixing holes are formed in the front and rear inner legs of thevertical members for the screwed connections between the right andleft-hand double-T frames and the upper and lower transverse members. 9.Frame structure according to claim 7, wherein the front inner leg hasfixing openings for cabinet and cable management components.
 10. Framestructure according to claim 7, wherein the vertical members areconstructed for cable routing and the cables can be introduced via thecentral opening and also the front and rear openings.
 11. Framestructure according to claim 1, wherein, in the vicinity of an outerlongitudinal side, the vertical members have short legs, which are ineach case constructed as right-angled bends from a front and rear shortside.
 12. Frame structure according to claim 1, wherein the depthmembers are C-shaped in cross-section.
 13. Frame structure according toclaim 1, wherein, for the terminal reception of vertical members, thedepth members have in each case a recess.
 14. Frame structure accordingto claim 13, wherein the recess is formed in an inside horizontal legand an upper and a lower inner leg of the depth members.
 15. Framestructure according to claim 1, wherein the depth members haveconnection points for the covering parts, for a hinging and a lockingdevice for a door.
 16. Frame structure according to claim 1, wherein thedepth members are constructed for the depth-adjustable fixing of metricassembly members.
 17. Frame structure according to claim 1, wherein thetransverse members are constructed as U-shaped supports with frontfixing plates.
 18. Frame structure according to claim 17, wherein thefixing plates have holes for a screwed connection to the right andleft-hand double-T frames.
 19. Frame structure according to claim 17,wherein the transverse members have horizontal marginal webs, whichextend up to the fixing plates and are terminally bounded by fixing sideplates on both sides of the fixing plates.
 20. Frame-structure accordingto claim 1, wherein the width of the frame structure can be variedthrough differently dimensioned transverse members.
 21. Frame structureaccording to claim 7, wherein the rear inner leg has fixing openings forcabinet and cable management components.
 22. Frame structure accordingto claim 7, wherein the front short side has fixing openings for cabinetand cable management components.
 23. Frame structure according to claim7, wherein the rear short side has fixing openings for cabinet and cablemanagement components.
 24. Frame structure according to claim 1, whereinthe depth members have fixing points for covering parts, such as a rearwall, a cover and side walls.
 25. Frame structure according to claim 1,wherein the depth members are constructed for the depth-adjustablefixing of 19″ assembly members.
 26. Frame structure according to claim1, wherein the transverse members are constructed as C-shaped supportswith front fixing plates.
 27. Frame structure for network cabinets andcabinet rows with high cabling densities, having a right and a left-handvertical member, two upper and lower depth members and with transversemembers, wherein a right and a left-hand vertical member is in each caseterminally connected to an upper and lower depth member to form a rightand a left-hand double-T frame and wherein the right and left-handdouble-T frames are in each case connected by an upper and a lowertransverse member, accompanied by the formation of a front and a rearframe recess.